Page 117 of Pretty Little Threats

I frown. “In what way?”

Dad shrugs. “I’m not sure, but she’s missed every shift since that encounter. I was concerned and reached out to her family. Apparently, her daughter hasn’t heard from her either.”

I furrow my brow, thinking back to the day Irene met Dare. She was polite, but...we had a conversation, one that went well beyond professional. That was dumb. I should’ve guarded myself. With a man like Dare, I should’ve known any weakness on display would be taken advantage of. Breaking my heart is one thing, but Irene?

It doesn’t make sense that he would be that cruel.

“I need to talk to the daughter.”

Dad puts his hand on my shoulder. “There’s no need to stress the poor woman out. She’s already a mess, and you going over to interrogate her won’t help. I’ve handed everything over to the authorities. Darewillbe caught.”

He has no idea. No idea that Dare is an expert at getting away with murder. There have been zero leads on Eric’s, and he’s gotten away with others. Dare is that good. If he wanted to make Irene disappear, it would be easy. The cops are already too late.

Hopelessness burrows into my chest, nestling right beside the pain of realizing I never meant anything to Dare.

“I told you he’s a monster, Rosalynn. I warned you,” Dad gloats.

Betrayal slices through every inch of my skin. I have to see Dare. I need to talk to him and demand answers. About the number. The messages. Irene. About how he doesn’t give a shit about me.

“I have to go,” I tell my dad, pushing out of the chair.

“Don’t forget who your family is,” Dad calls after me, but I’m already halfway to the elevators.

Dare was away at meetings when I stopped by Vista Holdings. That was hours ago, and now it’s close to midnight. Every hour that passes feels like another nail in a coffin. One step closer to the death of whatever was between us. He’s never stayed out this late. A thousand scenarios play out in my head. Another woman wrapping her legs around his waist as he slams into her. Nails that aren’t mine scratching down his back. Him calling someone elsewife.

I couldn’t bring myself to read Orion’s report without talking to Dare first.

Chewing on my nails, I walk toward the front door, and a wave of dizziness rolls over me. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, but I can’t bring myself to go make food. Dare not being here. Not knowing what’s right and wrong, not knowing if I’ve been played for a fool, creates a powerful ache in my stomach that leaves me feeling hollow and like my veins are filled with acid.

I’ve paced a hole in the foyer by the time the front door finally opens, revealing Dare’s hulking form soaked by the rain. He’s in gym clothes—black shorts and a white top that’s so damp it clings to his skin. My gaze roves all over him, searching for signs of betrayal.

The rain would’ve washed away any traces of perfume.

He shuts the door and leans back against it, staring at me with carefully guarded eyes.

Heart fluttering and skipping, I take a step toward him. “Where were you?”

“Working out,” he says with a shrug.

The muscles on the side of my head tighten, but I fight to keep my facial expressions controlled. I battle to stay calm. His nonchalance makes it difficult. “It’s midnight. Where were you?”

“Working out,” he says again, clenching his jaw.

Of course, he’s not going to confess until I drag it out of him. That’s fine. We can come back to my heartbreak. Someone else is more important right now.

I inch closer, narrowing my eyes. “Do you want to tell me what you did with Irene?”

His head rears back like I’ve slapped him. “Irene?”

“Dad told me that she’s missing. I saw the security footage. You were the last person to talk to her.” I close the distance between us, glaring up at him. “What did you do with her?”

Dare’s features darken. “Nothing.”

“You’re lying,” I shout. “My dad?—”

He transforms in front of me, shifting from guarded to enraged in the blink of an eye. Red coloring his cheeks, eyebrows slamming down, forehead contorting in annoyance. The change is such a shock, I take a step back. “And what else did Daddy tell you, hmm, Rose? What did the great Joseph Miller say to you to put you back under his thumb?”

I scoff. “You can’t distract me with a fight. I heard what you told him about me. What did you say? ‘Pluck her petals one by one’?” I shout, inching closer. “You’re fucking good, Dare, you really made me think that you cared about me, but I don’t even give a shit about that right now.”

---